Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke Declares a New Era: Prove AI Can’t Do It Before Hiring Humans
- 09/04/2025 17:07 PM
- Emma
Shopify is reshaping the future of work—again. This time, not through layoffs or tech upgrades, but by requiring teams to justify new hires by proving AI can't do the job first. The move signals a seismic shift in how leadership views productivity, scalability, and the future of human capital.
The Bold Memo That’s Making Waves
In a recent internal memo that has now gone public, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke laid down a game-changing directive: AI is now the default team member. Before managers can request additional headcount or resources, they must demonstrate conclusively why AI can’t perform the task at hand.
“What would this area look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team?” Lütke asked rhetorically, urging teams to rethink problem-solving from a fundamentally new angle.
Rather than simply proposing more hires, leaders are now encouraged to envision a scenario where autonomous AI agents are embedded into their workflows. This isn’t theoretical. It’s a directive—an organizational north star that places generative and agentic AI at the heart of every decision.
The Strategic Shift Behind the Policy
The implications are clear: Shopify is no longer just experimenting with AI. It’s institutionalizing it. This is more than just automation—it’s an evolution toward AI-native thinking, where every workflow is scrutinized through a lens of digital labor.
This is part of a broader cultural and operational pivot where:
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AI is viewed not as a tool but as a co-worker.
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The burden of proof lies with humans to justify why machines can't handle a role.
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Efficiency gains are no longer optional—they're strategic imperatives.
And Shopify isn’t alone.
Klarna’s Similar AI Vision: A Cautionary Parallel?
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski recently revealed that its AI chatbot performs the equivalent of 700 customer service roles. He went on to speculate that Klarna’s workforce could shrink to just 2,000 people, down from roughly 4,000, due to AI integration.
The message is unambiguous: AI isn’t supplementing labor—it’s replacing it.
In both companies, AI isn’t being implemented to assist employees—it’s being used to avoid hiring more of them altogether. This is a radical redefinition of workforce planning that could ripple across the tech ecosystem and beyond.
Shopify’s Layoffs and the New Hiring Reality
Shopify, which had about 8,100 employees as of 2024, already underwent major workforce reductions:
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In 2023, 20% of staff were laid off.
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In January 2024, additional layoffs quietly hit the customer service division.
These staffing cuts now appear less like tactical cost-savings and more like strategic alignment with an AI-first operational model. With the new policy in place, hiring at Shopify is now not just constrained—it’s fundamentally redefined.
Implications for the Broader Tech Industry
This isn’t just a Shopify story. It’s a signal to the industry. AI is no longer a value-add; it’s a gatekeeper.
Here’s what this shift could mean:
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Talent acquisition teams may need to develop AI-evaluation checklists before approving new roles.
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Engineering teams will be required to build AI solutions before hiring.
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Compliance and HR will need frameworks to ensure AI decisions align with ethical hiring standards.
For startups and scaleups, this policy sets a precedent that may become standard: Prove why a human is needed—don’t just assume one is.
The Ethics & Economic Fallout
This policy arrives as global organizations like the UN warn that over 40% of jobs could be disrupted by generative AI. Critics argue that this approach commodifies labor while creating a culture of scarcity and fear. But proponents say it’s pragmatic—and even visionary.
Lütke’s directive sparks an unavoidable question:
In the age of AI agents, is hiring a person now the exception, not the rule?
Final Thought: Reinventing Work in the Age of AI
Shopify's AI-first hiring policy reflects a future where AI isn’t just powering operations—it’s reshaping the fundamentals of corporate structure. This is a radical blueprint for leaner, faster, and more scalable companies—but it’s also a glimpse into a more uncertain labor future.
Whether it’s visionary or volatile, Shopify is setting the tone for what comes next. And that future demands not just smarter AI—but smarter thinking about what humans are for.
